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Manchester City played the perfect game at the Etihad to send Real Madrid crashing out of the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s Man City team put up a stellar performance to send a meek Real Madrid team back home empty-handed. City were so good, the scoreline of 4-0 really flattered the visitors.
Manchester City embarrass Real Madrid to book second UCL final in history
Erling Haaland could have had a hat-trick but the excellent Thibaut Courtois was in the form of his life. Still, the hosts sent a message to the rest of Europe that this could really be their year.
Here are 5 things Pep Guardiola did to ensure passage into the Champions League final.
1. Kept things simple
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Guardiola is known for his tactical fluidity more than anything else but recently he has been guilty of overthinking and tinkering with lineups and systems when he should not be. This time he stuck to the task, the same lineup from the first leg, and he was rewarded with a masterful performance.
2. Suffocating high-press
Man City flew out the blocks to start the game and unlike the first leg, they pressed Madrid from the first whistle. Ancelotti’s men had no answer and no way out of City’s press as the home side pushed and harried, the spaces opened up.
3. John Stones in midfield
Another masterclass from Pep. This has been the theme for a few weeks but Stones was excellent in this game. His advanced position was key to Bernardo Silva’s sweet opener and he looked like he’s played this position for years.
4. Made the right substitutions
Not every team has the luxury of bringing on Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez but Guardiola does. He noticed City’s legs were beginning to wear out and introduced the energetic options and Foden and Alvarez combined for a brilliant fourth goal.
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5. Quality over quantity
Guardiola has exerted every last bit of energy he can get from his City team as they chase a historic treble. The likes of Grealish, Bernardo, Haaland and Rodri have almost been ever-present over the past few games and he continues to resist the temptation to make too many alterations to his lineup.
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The idea is to make sure he has the best players available at all times, with the Madrid players looking tired and overwhelmed, the hosts had just enough to take it over the edge when it mattered most.
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